Chris took the words at face value, even the endearment, and he slowly put his arms around Val to feel the play of muscles on his back.

"I don't usually, erm, when I'm with men I'm...on top? I imagine that's the language," he said softly. "But there are plenty of other things we can do because you seem...quite in charge and I don't...not without a lot of, erm...I feel like such a fool talking about this..."

He felt a fool, but worse than that he could feel his heart beginning to race. He'd barely touched the man and he was coming undone about the maybe's and what if's...